My dream for many years has been to move on board once the kids were out of school. As it turns out, we live in Colorado Springs at 6500' and my wife has to get back to sea level for health reasons. So we are moving forward one year ahead of schedule and I have spent the last year researching all kinds of stuff from what's the right live aboard for us, what can we afford, and the list goes on and on.

To make it even more stressful, hurricane Sandy destroyed thousands and thousands of boats and I knew that the used boat inventory would be in high demand and I must act quickly. To make a long story short WE BOUGHT A BOAT that we believe is nearly perfect for us and I'M FREAKING OUT.

I need to:
hire a surveyor
figure out where to register it
where to keep it to startinsurance
sell my house
liquidate everything we own
EXPLAIN TO MY WIFE that her 4500 sq ft house is now...
LEARN TO SAIL vs being a deck hand

Did I mention I'M FREAKING OUT!

Maybe you seasoned sailors can offer advice that I really need.

1.Have any of you liquidated everything and jumped aboard and sailed off in to the sunset? Did you have a company come in and do the onsite auction thing or something else? How did you liquidate everything fast and easy?

2. I need to do the survey in the next couple weeks in Annapolis and the broker gave me a list of 5-6 in the area, how do I pick?

3. We are getting the boat in Annapolis and I would like to stay in the area to move in and get comfortable and learn to sail and gain experience before going anywhere more than training. I need to find a place to keep the boat that won't break the bank. Can anyone give me a recommendation for a good place in Annapolis to keep the boat for a month or two & what it will cost me?

4. Recommendations on who I should get in touch with to teach me, my wife, and my son to sail on OUR boat.

5. Since we are moving aboard and will not have a land based home, I need to move my business address and such and from what I hear but know nothing about is Delaware. Any advise on the pro's and cons of Delaware and taxes and such.

I think that's more than enough for now. The bottom line is I'm hoping there are a few of you out there that liquidated everything and move aboard and can share the "getting started" stuff.

Like the previous poster, I'm a little confused as to why you would want a survey done if you've already bought the boat. If you do in fact already own it, and you want to make sure everything is in good working order, I think having a good boat yard look it over would make more sense. They have the facilities and (hopefully) specialized skills (engine, rigging, fiberglass) to do a more thorough job.

You say you "bought" the boat and now want to do a survey? Is that correct, or did you just sign a contract? Ideally you want to do the survey before you actually buy it.

Have you and your family spent time on a boat together for an extended period of time before?

"WE" bought a bought, but you need to "EXPLAIN..." to her ... she does know about this decision right?

One suggestion, slow down, chill out, and take it one step at a time. Is there some factor that makes it necessary you do this fast?

ARGH, YES, contract agreed upon pending survey. I obviously need to be more specific as I figured everyone would know you make a deal, get survey, close, MY BAD!

Spending time in confined spaces, YES. We use to travel in a 30' motor home racing Motocross and spent months on end traveling but we always went home eventually to all the "stuff". I want to live simply SO BAD. I don't need all this crap at all. I loved living in the motor home.

I didn't explain this very well I guess. WE MUST LEAVE the high altitude due to her health and get back to sea level SOON.

Like the previous poster, I'm a little confused as to why you would want a survey done if you've already bought the boat. If you do in fact already own it, and you want to make sure everything is in good working order, I think having a good boat yard look it over would make more sense. They have the facilities and (hopefully) specialized skills (engine, rigging, fiberglass) to do a more thorough job.

As for learning to sail, if you're going to be in Annapolis you might want to look into courses at the Annapolis Sailing School. I took a week long sailing class there (many years ago) and thought it was excellent. Untitled Document

Thanks Steve! We were looking into them at the last sailboat show in Annapolis last October, we had a blast!

1. Surveyor
Are the surveyors members of a professional organization? (SAMS etc.)
Do they give references -- have you talked to the references?
Will they consider stopping the survey if they find a deal breaker early on?
Do the sample surveys they show you seem insightful, or more mere box checking and boiler plate language?
Did you give the boat a really close "pre survey" yourself, perhaps with an experienced sailing friend?
Do the prospective surveyors you talk to seem patient and interesting in explaining what they find?
Do the prospective surveyors encourage you to be present for the survey?
Do the surveyors tell you when they might recommend a rig or engine survey or analysis?

2. Would it make any financial sense or be possible for you to rent out your house, so that your spouse doesn't have to panic about totally cutting off all times to land forever-ish? Will friends or neighbors keep some of your land stuff so the change isn't quite as dramatic or final?

3. Annapolis could get a "bit" chilly in winter. Maybe a trip south down the ditch is called for so that you don't add too much bitter cold to the shock of moving? Mild weather might make learning to sail and live on the boat more fun.

4. Do you have trusted relatives and friends to help with mail and such like remaining connections to land, or will you use a mail forwarding service? The forums have all sorts of discussions about various bits of logistics.

5. Do you have any known issues that might force you back to land, such as health of parents, etc.?